U S West, Belgian Partners Create
Multimedia-and-Phone Business

BRUSSELS -- U S West Inc. and its local partners said they signed an agreement to develop a group of existing Belgian cable-TV networks into an interactive multimedia-and-phone business.

The shareholder pact signed by U S West's cable subsidiary, a Belgian regional development company and 17 local cable firms undoubtedly represents a big step forward in a plan to create a local telecommunications firm that would compete with entrenched operators, such as the Belgian national phone company Belgacom SA. But even within the...